During the seventh test flight of Starship, the launch rocket successfully landed on the launch tower. However, the spacecraft itself exploded shortly afterward.

The seventh test flight of the Starship system began excellently but ended prematurely with the loss of the spacecraft. The launch proceeded very smoothly, and about three minutes after liftoff, the spacecraft separated from the launch rocket. The rocket successfully executed its landing maneuver: approximately seven and a half minutes after launch, it landed safely on the launch tower and was securely caught by its capture arms.

The spacecraft continued its ascent into space, powered by its six engines, following a trajectory designed for a controlled descent over the Indian Ocean, similar to previous test flights. However, approximately ten minutes after launch, some of its engines shut down unexpectedly. Shortly thereafter, at an altitude of approximately 150 kilometers, contact with the spacecraft was lost. Following several checks, SpaceX teams confirmed that the spacecraft had been lost.

The spacecraft exploded in space, with residents on several Caribbean islands documenting an explosion in the sky and showers of burning debris falling downward. So far, there have been no reports of injuries caused by the debris SpaceX tweeted that the spacecraft underwent a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" during its ascent burn, and that teams will investigate the source of the malfunction. The tweet added, "With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability." 

SpaceX will undoubtedly not be doing the investigation alone: the accident will require an investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Such an investigation could delay future launches until the cause of the malfunction is determined and the company provides evidence that it has implemented the necessary measures to prevent its recurrence.

החללית שהלכה לאיבוד. מימין רגע הפיצוץ, כפי שתועד בחשבון ה-X של Future Terra. משמאל מטר הרסיסים שתועד בחשבון ה-X של KingDomRedux

The lost spacecraft. Right: The moment of the explosion, as documented on the X account Future Terra. Left: The debris shower, documented on the X account KingDomRedux.

 

This was the maiden flight of the upgraded Starship model, known as Block 2. The new model is about two meters taller than its predecessor, Block 1, and can carry approximately 25% more fuel. This version of Starship featured slight adjustments to the fin design and placement to enhance durability during atmospheric reentry. As in previous tests, the spacecraft’s heat shield consisted of various types of ceramic tiles to compare their performance. Additionally, an extra layer of insulating material was added beneath the tiles, and in some areas, self-cooling tiles were used as a replacement for the heat-resistant ones.

Similar to earlier tests, this flight was designed to be suborbital, with the spacecraft not intended to enter Earth's orbit. However, its objective was to test payload deployment in space for the first time. The spacecraft carried ten dummy satellites, built to replicate the size, shape, and weight of the next generation of Starlink communication satellites. These dummy payloads were not meant to remain as space debris; they were planned to descend into the Indian Ocean alongside Starship.

A key innovation in this flight test was the use of a recycled engine in the launch rocket. One of the 33 engines in the Super Heavy rocket was reused from the fifth test flight, during which it had performed a controlled landing on the launch tower. At least this component functioned reliably during this test flight, marking another milestone toward SpaceX’s goal of making Starship a fully reusable system, similar to the Falcon 9 rockets, whose first stages have been reused ten or more times in many instances.

SpaceX had planned numerous Starship flights this year, aiming in subsequent missions to achieve orbital insertion, engine re-ignition for reentry, and controlled landings of the spacecraft itself—not just the launch rocket—on land or on the launch tower. The company also aims to demonstrate in-space refueling capabilities between two Starships, which requires precise docking of both spacecraft in orbit. The failure of this latest test could delay these objectives until the investigation is completed and the issues are resolved.

 

The launch rocket landed successfully. Launch and landing video:

 

A Brief History of Starship

After conducting a series of atmospheric Starship tests that focused exclusively on the spacecraft's landing mechanism, SpaceX carried out the first full test of the Starship system in April 2023. This test featured the spacecraft mounted atop the Super Heavy launch rocket. During the test, the spacecraft failed to separate from the launch rocket, forcing controllers to detonate both in mid-air.

For the second test, in November 2023, SpaceX adopted a "hot staging" approach, where the spacecraft's engines ignite before separating from the launch rocket. This time, the separation succeeded, and the Starship spacecraft reached space for the first time. However, an engine failure caused the spacecraft to fall and burn up.

The third test, in March 2024, ended with the spacecraft burning up and exploding during reentry over the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the launch rocket attempted a landing maneuver over the sea but failed to complete it.

During the fourth test, in June 2024, the spacecraft successfully reentered the atmosphere and executed a planned landing maneuver over the Indian Ocean, despite damage to its fins. The launch rocket successfully completed a sea landing maneuver over the Gulf of Mexico, near the launch site.

The fifth test, in October 2024, marked the first time the launch rocket successfully landed at the launch site and was caught by the tower’s capture arms. The spacecraft also performed its planned landing maneuver over the Indian Ocean before intentionally plunging into the sea.

During the sixth test, weather conditions led SpaceX to forgo attempting  a tower-arm catch of the launch rocket, with the launch rocket being directed to land at sea instead. The spacecraft successfully executed its landing maneuver over the Indian Ocean, while testing an upgraded heat shield.

NASA has selected Starship as the lunar lander for the Artemis program’s first crewed missions. However,  in 2023, NASA announced another delay, pushing the first crewed landing to 2027. Meeting this timeline appears increasingly, in part due to delays in Starship’s development.

In recent weeks, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has been vocal in his criticism of the Artemis program, calling it unfocused on results. Musk has also reiterated that, for him, the Moon is merely a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal of using Starship to colonize Mars.

Musk’s influence could expand further following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump in 2024. Musk is expected to play a key role in the administration, potentially granting him substantial influence over NASA’s plans. This raises concerns about conflicts of interest, given SpaceX’s status as NASA’s primary contractor, receiving billions of dollars through various contracts for astronaut launches and supply missions to the International Space Station.